What is Sudoku? Rules of the game and tips for solving Sudoku easily

What is Sudoku? How to play Sudoku are questions that many players often encounter when new to Sudoku. So what is the answer to the above questions? TipsMake.com will answer you with the content below.

What is Sudoku?

Sudoku, also known in English as Number Place, is a number-arranging puzzle game based on combinatorial logic. Sudoku will be given a few numbers and located in random positions. The player's task is to fill a 9x9 grid with numbers so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 sub-grids that make up the main grid contain all the digits from 1 to 9. .

Sudoku first appeared in the US with the name Number Place . It was then introduced to Japan and renamed Sudoku by publisher Nikoli, which means unique because each cell has only one number. Over time, Sudoku has become a favorite intellectual game in many countries.

Basic rules of Sudoku

Sudoku has many variations, but only the size and number of cells in the game change while the basic gameplay remains the same.

In the standard version (original) the size is only 9x9 (small box) and is divided into 9 areas, each area is 3x3 in size. These areas are grouped and separated from each other by a darker black border than the small cells.

Rules of Rows and Columns in Sudoku

1. Sudoku rules revolve around filling in the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty cells on the 9x9 grid, ensuring the following conditions:

1. Law of Goods:

1. Each horizontal row (from left to right) must contain 9 digits from 1 to 9, without duplicates.
2. The order in which the numbers appear in the row is not important.

2. Column Law:

1. Similar to the row rule, each vertical column (from top to bottom) must also contain all 9 digits from 1 to 9, without duplicates.

For example:

1. In a row, we cannot have two cells containing the number 5.
2. In a column, we cannot have two cells containing the number 7.

Note:

1. Row and column rules apply to all 9 rows and 9 columns on the Sudoku grid.
2. Complying with row and column rules is a prerequisite for successful Sudoku solving.
3. In addition to row and column rules, Sudoku also has 3x3 block rules. This law stipulates that each 3x3 block (also called "region", "box") must also contain all 9 digits from 1 to 9, without duplicates.
4. Combining row, column and 3x3 block rules, players can gradually fill in the numbers in the empty cells, completing Sudoku.

The easiest way to play Sudoku

Basic gameplay

1. Basic techniques: Scan rows, columns and subareas: Identify cells that can only be filled with a single number based on the game rules.
2. Exclude: Identify numbers that cannot fill a cell based on numbers already in the same row, column, and subrange.

If you are just starting out, you should choose easy levels so you can get used to the gameplay of this game faster. Below is the easiest way to solve Sudoku.

Step 1 : When starting the game in this default 9x9 format, start solving the large boxes with the most numbers. Let me give you an example in this bottom right box, if you want to enter the number 1 in this box. Check to see which vertical or horizontal rows have the number 1 appearing and you will not be allowed to enter the number 1 in that row.

For example, below, you will not be able to enter the number 1 in the cells with red dots because there is already a number 1 in that row. The only box where you can enter the number 1 is the box marked X.

Step 2: Similarly, solve the big box with the most numbers. This will make it easier for you to start the game.

Step 3: As in the box above, I cannot fill in the number 3 in the far left row because it will overlap with the number 3 in the row near the right. As for the position in column 3 from the left (between numbers 4 and 7), you cannot fill in number 2.

Step 4: Then, when you have solved a large Sudoku box, see which row around that large box has the most numbers. Here I have a top row and a vertical row on the left with only 2 numbers left to solve.

Step 5 : Next is a row as shown below, there are only 2 numbers left to complete so just aim for rows with few numbers left to solve.

If the vertical or horizontal row doesn't have many numbers for you to solve, go back to the big boxes to continue solving.

In addition to the standard 9x9 cell format as shown below and divided into 3x3 areas. There are many other forms such as.

1. Size 4x4 cells divided into 2x2 areas
2. Size 6x6 cells divided into 2x3 areas

1. Size 5x5 cells divided by Pentomino
2. Size 7x7 area divider according to Pentomino
3. Size 8x8 divided by rule area (4x2): (4x2)

There are also larger sizes such as 16x16, 12x12 divided into 4x3 areas. Or even larger sizes are called Giant Sudoku with 25x25 cells and Samurai Sudoku. The largest variation of Sudoku currently is 100x100 cells.

With the instructions for playing Sudoku according to the article above, you know how to play Sudoku and solve Sudoku in many different directions. At the same time, you also know the variations of Sudoku from difficult to easy.

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Jessica Tanner

Update 08 July 2024